Top 10 free apps to make life on set easier

I love my iPad. It has made working on set so incredibly stream lined and I use tons of apps to improve my productivity. And because I am forever on a budget, I use tons of free apps to simplify my life.


Rendering on the go:

Paint gallery: so far this is the best fully free painting/sketching app I have found. No layering capability, but it works quite well for quick sketches.









Concepts: another sketching program. In it's free form it is ok to use, the app design is much more professional than paint gallery. And this app can do layers, like importing a picture to trace, and it has a far greater selection of tools and textures to work with, but to you have to purchase the full app to enjoy all the neat features. It does seem like it would be worth it, so the next time I find paint gallery isn't full-filling my needs I will probably purchase it.

Magic Plan: The coolest drafting app ever! Use your device to take pictures of every corner of the room and it will measure and draft out a ground plan. It works best on empty rooms, but it is such a time saver to use during location scouting. I freakin' LOVE this app. It saved me hours of measuring and made it so easy to import into google sketch-up to do my renderings and ground plans. Plus, I must say, it really made me feel like a tech/art wizard.



Note taking:

Evernote: Evernote is a whole slew of digital products that can all be synced up between devices and is a great way to keep track of the never ending torrent of information you get while working. I use it to take notes during meetings, make to-do lists, costume plots and write stories. And, here's my favorite dumb artist reason to love it- I'm very fond of the logo. Elephants are cool.







Audio memos- free: I like to take voice recordings during meetings, interviews, and when I have a sudden idea. My favorite use of this application is while on set. If I suddenly have a list of things to prep I'll record it so I can play it back as I gather things together. Much quicker than jotting it down.









Film document management:

ibooks: Fun little trick I learned from a wise UPM, open the pdfs of your script, schedues, and other paperwork in safari, and then open it in ibooks. Now you have all of the documents at your fingertips without lugging around a ream or three of paper.







Random helpful apps:
WhatKnot: an app that will tell you what Knots to use and when you should use them. I wish I'd had this during tech class is college.









My Script Calculator: hand write in the equation- even complicated ones involving co-sins ect, and it will solve it. I love this app so much :)









File Sharing:

Dropbox: ah, a classic. share all those lovely files and pictures you've been making while on set.

And last but not least,
Pintrest: my love for whom I have spoken about in a previous posting, but I will say it again; all my research right where I need, it all the time. <3







And there you have it, my top 10 favorite free apps that make my job easier to do.

Set Etiquette

Film Set Etiquette is so incredibly important.

And a lack of it is the tell-tale sign of someone new to set.

As usual I quote from howtofilmschool.com with a few additions of my own. 
Check out The original posting which focuses more on the G&E perspective: http://howtofilmschool.com/how-to-film-schools-guide-to-film-set-etiquette/ or keep reading below:

• Drug and alcohol use is frowned upon on set. Films sets are fun to work on, but they are also super fast paced and you need to be able to keep up. A head fogged up by anything slows down the process, and no one is fond of that.

• Keep you mouth shut and your ears open. Only speak when you need to. If you're gabbin' away in the corner your undoubtedly missing the AD and Director deciding that they're going to "flip the world" shortly. ("flipping the world" means turning the camera around to see the other half of the room.) Or- eeep! you missed the "Rolling!" and have now been caught talking during a take.

• Respect the chain of command. 

• Be polite, say please and thank you.

• Learn people’s names. You'll be working together for a while and it is always easier to work with people you are on a first name basis with.

• Be watchful and respectful of your co-workers. 

• Try to show up a little early. Do some networking, learn where the equipment is, read the call sheet, have a coffee. Do whatever it takes to prepare yourself for the day.
• If you discover you will be late for any reason- call you boss immediately! Film crews work as a team and anyone missing can potentially cripple the process. The sooner your boss knows the sooner they can work around it.

• Arrive on set prepared with the tools you need to do your job. (For the art department- I will have to post again later about what I tend to bring with me to set.)

• At top of day report to your department head, introduce yourself and be respectful. They always need to know once everyone has arrived.

• When given instructions in person or over the walkie be sure to acknowledge by saying “copy” or “copy that”. Do not copy if you do not fully understand the instructions. Feel free to repeat back, ask questions or do whatever it takes to fully understand what you are being instructed to do. More walkie talkie etiquette on http://jeanette-art.blogspot.com/2013/02/film-set-walkie-talkie.html

• When in need of a washroom break be sure to tell your boss! You are fine as long as your boss knows and someone is around to cover you. As a Cinematographer, Director, or Production designer the AD must be told.

• Watch your boss and be aware of what is going on in your department and around you.

• Work hard, but don’t over do it. Pace yourself, the days are long and there will be plenty of work.

• Allow others to do their jobs, don’t be a hero. Don’t chirp in about things that have nothing to do with you or your department.

• If you want to help another department ask them if they need it first. A simple “may I?” before moving a camera case or stand can save you a lot of grief later. The bigger the set the less likely you will be allowed to touch anything that doesn’t belong to your department.

• Take a call sheet at the top of the day or print one the night before. In most cases many of your questions can be answered by looking at the call sheet

• If on a longer job don’t be afraid to ask for a one liner, It can help you to be ready for future days.

• Do not just plug items into any available outlet. Never unplug anything. ALWAYS ask an Electric.

If you're in charge:

• Be patient with the less experienced and try to teach as you go. 

• Don’t be afraid to assign tasks or delegate responsibility, even if someone is working for a lower rate or for free that doesn’t mean baby them. In most cases people working for free are there for the experience and would be willing to do almost anything within reason.

• Appreciate their hard work and thank them graciously. It’s a simple as saying “great morning guys, thanks for the hard work” or “awesome work today, thanks” at the end of the day. Even covering one pitcher sometime and saying “thanks” goes a hell of a long way.

• Look out for your people! Don’t let them get taken advantage of, make sure they are being paid fairly, being well fed and getting their full lunch hours. Why? Because they deserve it, the better paid, well rested and fed they are the better they will make you look and the better you will make your boss look.

• Be assertive when you need to be. Don’t be too nice because you will be walked all over. 

Dealing with Production:

• If you have a question or concern make sure you are bringing it to the right production team member, don’t hassle the director about something the PM (production manager) should be dealing with and don’t ask the PM something that the AD’s should be dealing with.

• Know the roles of the production staff, it will get your issues dealt with more efficiently.

• When you are asked to reply to an email or phone call try to do it as soon as possible. It makes for a very stressful day if you can’t get in touch with the crew the day before a shoot starts.

• If anything strikes you as odd or concerning on the call sheet let the distributor know as soon as you receive it, don’t wait until you are on set and it might be too late.

• Keep a copy of the call sheet on you at all times, production doesn’t need to be bothered with questions that can be answered if you just read the call sheet.

• Don’t ignore the call sheet, some people think that all they need to know is what time they show up and then act surprised when there is a location move. Production doesn’t spend hours working on them for you not to read them.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns, there is a lot going on in a production office and it is possible that things get overlooked.

Sensitive Locations:

• Respect the home owners wishes. If the home owner is around or you’ve been given instructions to not unplug something or avoid going in a certain room follow those instructions to a T. Otherwise you could get the whole production kicked out. 
• Careful when removing tape from painted walls or hardwood floors. Although you should be using 2 inch black paper tape (painter tape essentially) it can still cause some damage, so be gentle. 
• Never use gaff tape on painted surfaces. It will always take it along of the ride when you remove it.
• Avoid using nails and push-pins on walls- unless given specific permission to do so. Use command picture hanging strips or poster puddy, every time. The reason is mostly due to respect for the location but it also avoids tiny holes all over the place every time you have to move a picture to compensate for the tighter shots.
• Use moving blankets when sliding around heavy furniture. It saves you back and the floors.
• Do your best to return the location to the condition it was in when you arrived. If you damage or break something tell Production ASAP. Even if it’s something tiny they can easily be doing damage control or figuring out how to repair or replace it.

Based on that information here’s how to deal with the Electrics:

• Tell them that you need a line for a certain item, don’t just ask for cable. You could go as far as telling them the wattage, but just saying “Hey, I’d love a line for my smoke machine” is enough. That sentence alone tells them that it will probably be 10-15amps and from there they know exactly what they can do.

• When they say they will get to it, they will get to it. Don’t pester. Things are prioritized and in many cases there are 5 things that need to happen before they can get you power.

• When and if you’re done with the line tell someone, don’t just leave it laying there. You could also wrap it yourself, but be sure you know the proper way of wrapping cable.

Tips for Art Department to live by

This is the art department companion guide to howtofilmschool.com's 

105 Tips for Grips and Electrics to Live by

Because they said it first, and they said it best, but I just wanted to gear their words of wisdom towards my domain :)

Working on set can be challenging. Long days, not a lot of sleep, and in the art department, you will always discover something new and unexpected once you get to set. So you always have to be thinking five steps ahead of what's currently happening on set.

32 Tips for Arties to live by:

1. Keep receipts for everything: We often have to buy more than we use, so always keep your receipts, in a neat organized fashion and pay attention to store's return policies. 
2. Learn the voice of your bosses. I have kept ahead of the director, AD and Cinematographer countless times because whenever they group up to discuss the upcoming shots I invite myself into the conversation or at least keep an ear on it.
3. Listen for the Assistant Director, you can always be one step ahead if you pay attention. They are the heartbeat keeping the set's pace after all.
4. Pay attention to what is going on in other departments. Much of the support they require can be determined this way. I hate to say it, but eavesdropping is kind of necessary sometimes.
5. Listen for people in your department and be aware of any support co-workers may require. Often times just flying someone a sandbag, stinger or a larger flag can really speed things up. Remember, teamwork is very important.
6. When flying in large or heavy items be sure to call it out. Calling out things like “Couch flying in!” or just "Points!" is essential. Never turn a corner or go through a door without calling it out. As an Art department member I will often call out things like "Breakables flying in!" or "Hot coffee!" if I happen to be carrying something hot. I've noticed saying hot coffee will get anyone's head to perk up.
7. Work safely, never run but do keep up a good pace. And always double check your work. Did you grab the prop from the actor? Or did they put it into their pocket?
8. Never ever ever plug something in without asking someone from Electrics first. Whether it's a hair dryer for some paint, a sewing machine for a quick fix, or a practical for set dressing- ask first. You never know what circuit might be close to capacity with lighting equipment. So always ask first.
9. Always wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Closed-toed comfortable shoes, modest tops, and pants or shorts. There is no reason for dresses or skirts on set unless you're talent.
10. Add some sash chord to things like knives and wrenches. When on a ladder or lift,  wrap the sash around your wrist. The last thing you want is to drop something on someone’s head.
11. Learn the names of your coworkers. It is understandable that you might not be able to learn all the names on set, but be sure to know the names of the Key Grip and Master Electrian, Everyone in Camera department, the director, AD, 2nd AD, Key PA, and of course everyone in Arts. Basically anyone you will be working along side.
12. Be respectful to other departments, we are all working towards the same goal, even if we all do it different ways.
13. If uncomfortable with an assigned task or unsure, always ask! Someone else might be more suited for that job (say climbing a 12step ladder to greek a sign) it takes time to hone your skill and become comfortable with the various situations you might be put in. However, don't be timid, you should always be trying to push your limits and grow.
14. Although we all love having a fun time on set, keep personal conversation to a minimum or at least away from set. Even work related conversations should be kept fairly quiet. 
15. Come to work prepared to do your job. For and indie artistic director that means everything from tape, to a camera and saws. I'll post soon about what to pack in your art kit.
16. Label your personal gear. People won’t intentionally steal from you, but sometimes they just forget.
17. Although you should have your most important tools on your belt at all times that doesn’t mean you should carry EVERYTHING! In fact, having too much stuff on your belt can be dangerous or a nuisance to the sound department. So your general belt buddies should, at least, be a multitool, walkie-talkie, and safety pins.
18. Invest in a proper multi-tool. Leatherman is the way to go. You can get cheap alternatives, but a Leatherman is industry standard and will last you years. 
19. Always be sure to return tools to the original owners. This goes for gear too. If an electric lets you use an extension chord you should try to return the cable in the same condition it was given to you. 
20. Gear (props, set dressing, ext.) is to be staged neatly. Like items kept together, everything easily accessible. When finished with a piece of gear it can be returned to the staging area, but not returned to the truck until wrap.Staging should be set as close to the set as possible without being in the way.
21. Learn “Camera Left” and “Camera Right”. These mean from the point of view of the camera. If you are facing the camera “Camera Left” means your Right.
22. Learn “Up Stage” and “Down Stage”. Down Stage means closer to camera, Up Stage means farther from camera.
23. Watch every take it is your responsibility to act as a second set of eyes for anything prop, set, and sometimes costume continuity.
24. Treat all gear with respect. If and when a prop or tool is damaged or goes missing you must report it to the Production designer and/or artistic director.
25. There is always work to do on set. When not on any particular task you should spend your time cleaning up the staging area or preparing stuff for the next setup. You never want to be caught sitting around. 
26. Try to Work Smart, Not Hard. Plan things out instead of just diving in. It will save you time later.
27.  Save your back, get into the habit of always lifting with your legs, never your back. This goes for lighter items too. The key is to keep your back straight and bend at the knees.
28. Always pay attention to weather, things can change from one moment to the next. Wind can pick up or a storm can come in. I know it sounds unlikely, but I’ve been there before. Safety first. Which is a good reason to always dress in layers
29. Keep a spare set of clothes and a rain coat in your car. In the art department you will be amazed how many times you discover yourself covered in muck by the end of the day.
30. If asked for an ETA on your wrap, it might be beneficial to over estimate. Wrapping takes time, you never know what can go missing or other unforeseen issues.
31. ALWAYS do a dummy check. Missing gear makes you and your team look bad. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.
32. Leave a location the same or better than you found it. Make sure the furniture and knick-knacksis back to where they started, make sure all the things you flipped around to hide logos are put back in order, take the tape balls out from under pictures. We tend to touch everything on a location, so it is up to us to return it to sorts.
33. Always have a Head-Mounted Hands Free LED flashlight on you at all times. Best is a bright white/Red combo. 

Film set- the walkie talkie

Want to learn the ins and out of a film set before setting foot on one? Check out howtofilmschool.com It's an amazing blog that goes through everyhting you'll need to function on a set like a pro. For this post I referenced their walkie talkie etiquette for you, and added some of my own thoughts.

http://howtofilmschool.com/walkie-talkie-etiquette/

Walkie Talkies- the sign that you have progressed beyond the guerrilla filmmaking to a professional set.

Walkie-talkies are a powerful time saving tool- treat them nicely, or your paycheck may be the one paying for it's replacement.

Channels:

1. Channel 1 tends to be for interdepartmental communication- and the only one saying more than "copy that" should be the AD (Assistant Director)
2. If the conversation is longer or more complicated than a quick order move it to another channel, in my experience that is often channel 2
3. each department tends to have it's own channel to deal with all their own chatter. Sound, Art Department, and G&E. If you need to talk to another department, go to their channel, but then ask them to switch to the chat channel if it's a longer conversation.
4. If you are a PA, stay on 1 unless talking to your superior on another channel- AD's hate it when they're not being heard.

Random Tips:

1. Key for a second before speaking, otherwise your first couple words will be clipped off.
2. Pay attention to your walkie buttons and dials, it's easy to get unplugged, or push the button that will make it que. And Queuing walkies drive everyone nuts. So stay in the habit of making sure you're plugged in with the volume up and on the right channel.
3. This one will seem like common sense, however it happens often with beginners, Keep your headset on you head. It will never be of any good around your neck.
4. speak slowly and calmly so you don't have to repeat yourself.
5. If you need to, have some instructions repeated do it, it's ok.
6.  As with any situation: think before you speak.

Now for the fun part.

Walkie-Talkie Lingo:

10-1 (10-100):
Standard washroom break. Although this falls under more than just walkie etiquette and is more a common set etiquette. ’10-1′ or ’10-100′ simply means your going to the bathroom.

10-2 (10-200):
Longer break…Not as common as 10-1, but still used from time to time. Some people are a little embarrassed about using, but we’re all human. Don’t be embarrassed.

Upgrade:
This one isn’t standard, but I find it works well. Often times you ask for a 10-1 and sneak off for a quick pee to then realize you have to do more than just pee…a lot of the guys I work for just ask for an upgrade. “Mind if I upgrade that 10-1, sir?” This tell your boss you wont be as quick as a 10-1.

Copy or Copy that:
Acknowledging that you have received the information, understand and are doing it.

Walkie Check:
Is said when you first turn on your walkie. Someone will reply to you with ‘Good Check’ this means your microphone is working properly and are being heard clearly.

Going off Walkie:
This is what you say when you are talking off you walkie or will not being able to communicate. It’s very important to let everyone know that you wont be available.

Standby:
Used when someone tries to communicate with you but you are too busy to reply, you simple say Standby

Standing by:
This is great to use when you’ve completely a quick task, like panning a light and are standing by it for any further instructions.

Iggy for John:
‘Iggy’ being your name, ‘John’ the name of the person you are wanting to communicate with. See responding to that call below.

Go for John:
When someone calls for you over the walkie you respond with “Go for *your name here*”. This tell them that you have heard them asking for you and are awaiting instructions.

What’s your 20:
This means ‘where are you?’. Often times asked before given a task.

Eyes on John:
‘Eyes on’ is used when you’re looking for someone or something. Sometimes you will hear something like “Does anyone have eyes on my wrench” or “Does anyone have eyes on the boss?”

Flying in:
This tells other that you are flying in to set or bringing something in.

Stepped on:
When two people try to talk on the same channel at the same time. All anyone will hear is static. A third party will generally say "repeat that please, you just got stepped on"

howtofilmschool.com

http://howtofilmschool.com

I love this blog! They have an fun writing style and are obviously seasoned professionals in the business. The blog does tend to focus on G&E, and production thoughts, but it's all very useful information and smartly written.

Some of my favorite posts are:


10 Things Inexperienced Cinematographers do that Annoys the Rest of the Crew
Where they describe some honest mistakes that newer cinematographers do. It's good advise for all newbies however. When you're on a film set, everyone has a specific job to do. So trust your team, and give them the time to do their job well.

5 Must Haves for an at Home Office
All simple tips that really do make a serious difference when in pre-prodution


Script Breakdown
Every designer ever will have to breakdown their scripts. They have some useful tips on how to catch everything you need.

And my top favorite post, which I will make sure any of my new-to-set arties read before our first day:

HowToFilmSchool’s Guide to Film Set Etiquette